| 释义 |
afoot, adv., prop. phr.|əˈfʊt|
[a prep.1 on + foot. The full on fote occurs in 13th c., and a foot was written as two words till the 17th. The oldest form was in the plural, a (on) foten = on feet, always in the earlier text of Layamon 1205, but altered in the later to a fote.]
1. On foot, i.e. on one's own feet, in opposition to on horseback, etc.
1205Layamon 5908 Weoren heo of Rome? alle ridinde, þa oðere a foten [later text a fote]. Ibid. 25402 Þat folc..þat þer eoden a uoten [later text afote]. c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 79 Þe wayferande frekez, on fote & on hors. 1366Mandeville xxii. (1839) 245, 50,000 men at horse, and 200,000 men a fote. 1489Caxton Faytes of Armes i. xxiii. 70 Folke in tho dayes faughten more on horsbacke than a-fote. 1611Bible Acts xx. 13 Minding himselfe to goe afoote. 1681Lond. Gaz. mdclxi/3 His Royal Highness walked a Foot. 1762Goldsm. Cit. W. cxxii. (1837) 474 They take coach, which costs ninepence, or they may go afoot, which costs nothing. 1849Dickens Barn. Rudge 15/1 He was mounted and I afoot.
2. On foot, in opposition to sitting still, lying, etc.; astir, on the move.
1530Palsgr. 422/2 Is this woman that lay a chylde bedde a foote agayne? 1588Shakes. Tit. A. iv. ii. 29 Were our witty Empresse well a foot. 1596― 1 Hen. IV, i. iii. 278 Before the game's a-foot, thou still let'st slip. 1827Cooper Prairie I. vii. 100 Ishmael and his sons were all speedily afoot. 1828Scott F.M. Perth II. 123 A party of mummers who were a-foot for pleasure.
3. Hence, In active existence, in operation or employment.
1601Shakes. Jul. C. iii. ii. 265 Mischeefe thou art a-foot. 1638Sanderson 21 Serm. Ad. Aul. viii. (1673) 112 Pride..setteth contentions a foot at the first and afterwards keepeth them afoot. 1659Birch in Burton Diary (1828) IV. 384 The Committee of the Army is kept a-foot still, at salaries. Receivers-general and auditors are kept a-foot at the same height. 1879Rogers in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 128/2 There is always a question afoot, whether the profits, etc.
4. Comb. afoot-back (after a-horse-back).
1592Greene Groats worth of Wit D iij b, When I was fayne to carry my playing fardle afoot-backe. |